Thousands of reservists are fleeing Russia: is the border already closed?
Created: 10/01/2022 06:53
By: Christina Denk
Since partial mobilization was announced, hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled to neighboring countries.
Now borders are closed.
But many Russians have another problem.
Moscow – Hundreds of thousands are leaving: the reservists in Russia who are supposed to go to the Ukraine war after partial mobilization.
But both Russia and neighboring countries are closing their borders.
Leaving the country only seems possible to a limited extent.
Many Russians also have another problem - they don't have a passport.
An overview of the situation for partial mobilization.
Partial mobilization in the Ukraine war: Thousands of Russians flee to Finland, Kazakhstan and Georgia
On September 21, Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization of around 300,000 reservists in the Ukraine war, which experts now regard as a "military disaster" and is causing anger in the Russian media.
The recruits lack training and medical equipment.
The newly mobilized forces were instructed to bring their own first aid kit.
People queue to cross the border to Kazakhstan at the Mariinsky border crossing.
Tens of thousands of Russians are fleeing Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine.
© dpa
Many of the reservists also tried to leave the country as quickly as possible.
On Tuesday (September 27) there were reports that 260,000 of the recruits had already left the country.
100,000 Russian citizens are said to have traveled to Kazakhstan alone.
In addition to Kazakhstan, Russians fled to Georgia, Mongolia and Finland.
Finland recorded record numbers of arrivals at the weekend after the announcement of partial mobilization.
Almost 17,000 people crossed the border.
Cars were backed up on the Georgian border.
Escape from partial mobilization: Russia blocks exit, neighboring EU countries close borders
Entry and exit are now being made more difficult for those who object to the war, both from neighboring countries and from Russia.
After Georgia and Kazakhstan, Russia announced tightened controls.
The Russian republic of North Ossetia, which borders Georgia, has imposed entry bans from other parts of Russia.
"We will simply not be physically able to maintain order and security if this flow continues to increase," Republican leader Sergei Menyaylo wrote on Telegram on Wednesday (September 28).
At the main border crossing to Kazakhstan, Karausek, Russia is planning future passport controls.
These would be checked against the draft lists.
Anyone who falls under the mobilization criteria and does not have an official deferment or an exit permit from the military is not allowed to leave the country.
Affected neighboring country of Russia | regulations at the border |
|---|---|
Finland | closed to Russian tourists |
Norway | tightened controls |
Baltic States | Restricted entry even before partial mobilization |
Georgia | difficult exit from Russia |
Kazakhstan | difficult exit from Russia |
Mongolia | not specified |
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Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland had already imposed entry restrictions on September 19, two days before the announcement.
Finland followed suit on Thursday (29 September).
According to the Finnish broadcaster
Yle
, it is not a complete entry stop.
Family visits, as well as entry for work and medical care remain possible.
The decision was made in the wake of the gas leaks at Nord Stream 1 and 2 and the annexation of Ukrainian territories.
Norway also tightened its border controls.
The mobilization in Russia and a possible exit ban for Russian citizens increase the risk of illegal border crossings.
The EU also recommended that the member states further restrict the issuing of visas.
Security risks should be examined more thoroughly, Schengen visas should be issued less frequently and long-term visas or a residence permit should be examined instead.
Departure from Russia: Many citizens do not have a passport – Russia continues to restrict allocation
Partial mobilization and closure of the borders: Many Russian citizens are left with the option of fleeing to a country without visa requirements.
Most direct flights to these countries were already sold out a few days after the partial mobilization, and ticket prices also rose enormously.
Some flights to Turkey, where no visa is required, cost over 7000 euros, ten times the normal price.
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But even with the necessary money for a flight ticket, it is not always possible to leave the country.
Because in Russia only a small part of the population has an international passport.
Russia also issues "internal passports" which are accepted in some of the former Soviet countries surrounding Russia, such as Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
After the partial mobilization, Russia announced that it would no longer issue passports to reservists.
The Russian government announced on Wednesday on its website that those affected were “denied their passports”.
Whether this also includes “internal” passports was not mentioned.
You can read all developments relating to Ukraine in the negotiation ticker.
(chd/dpa/AFP)
